Chain matrix heat exchanger



Dec. 21, 1965 F. w. HOCHMUTH CHAIN MATRIX HEAT EXCHANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1963 Dec. 21, 1965 w. HOCHMUTH CHAIN MATRIX HEAT EXCHANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1963 gag United States Patent 3,224,498 CHAIN MATRIX HEAT EXCHANGER Frank W. Hochmuth, 28 Fox Den Road, West Simsbury, Conn. Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,567 16 Claims. (Cl. 165-5) The present invention relates to regenerative heat exchange apparatus of the type used to utilize heat in waste gases by transmitting the heat therein to air or other gaseous fluid to be heated. More particularly the invention relates to a unique arrangement by which apparatus utilized to transmit heat from the hot gases to air is maintained substantially free from deposits of foreign matter thereby insuring its continuous operation at a high rate of efficiency.

A conventional rotary regenerative heat exchanger includes a rotor mounted on either a horizontal or vertical axis having compartments adapted to carry a mass of heat absorbent element usually provided in the form of tightly packed metallic plates. The rotor including the metallic plates is rotated about its axis in order that the metallic plates will first be positioned in the hot gases to absorb heat therefrom, and upon turning the rotor about its axis, the heated plates will be disposed in a cool air duct where they will give up a portion of their absorbed heat to the air passing therethrough. Heat absorbent elements of this type require periodic cleaning to remove fly ash and other solids that become deposited thereon by the exhaust gases passing therethrough, and for this purpose it is customary to use cleaning nozzles that project streams of water, steam or compressed air on to the elements to erode or wash away the deposits. In certain applications where the dust loading is unusually severe or tenacious, the energy expended to clean conventional heat absorbent surfaces may become so great that thermal gain from the heat exchanger is substantially negated.

There have been various attempts to provide heat exchange apparatus of this general type in which element is subjected to a continuous or periodic agitation by virtue of its horizontal or oblique axis of rotation. The application of such apparatus is however restricted by its physical attributes to installations of this nature, and there is further need for heat exchange apparatus of the selfcleaning type that may be mounted on a vertical axis of the customary type.

The principal object of this invention therefore is to provide a self-cleaning heat absorbing surface for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger that is adapted for use in installations where conditions of element fouling substantially preclude the use of regenerative heat exchange apparatus having heat absorbing elements of the usual type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfcleaning heat absorbing surface for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger that may be utilized in installations Where such apparatus is disposed to rotate about a vertical axis.

Other objects of my invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a heat exchanger constructed in accordance With the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the heat exchanger as seen from line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen from line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger having a modified form of driving arrangement; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a rotor illustrating the element arrangement when inner and outer rotor sections have been moved circumferentially relative one to the other.

3,224,498 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 Referring now to the drawings wherein the rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus disclosed therein comprises a rotor having a rotor shell 10 and an independent rotor post 12. The rotor post is directed concentrically through the rotor shell and is mounted for rotation about an essentially vertical axis by a support bearing 14 at the upper end of the rotor. The bearing 14 may be mounted on any suitable support structure such as beams 16.

Independent support beams 18 at the bottom of the rotor support a cylindrical housing 20 that surrounds the rotor in a spaced relation thereto. The housing is provided at opposite ends thereof with end plates 22 and 24 having imperforate portions between apertures 25 and 27 that direct a heating fluid or hot gas through the rotor in spaced relation to a fluid to be heated such as cooler air.

The rotor shell 10 is secured along its outer periphery to an annular flange 28 that extends radially outward over a portion of an annular flange 29 mounted on the inner periphery of the rotor housing.

A series of circumferentially spaced bearings 30 are mounted on the lower flange 29 to provide a support for the rotor shell independent from the rotor post. A guide bearing 32 is aligned with axial projection 34 at the lower end of the rotor post 12 and is mounted on independent support structure to preclude radial displacement of the rotor that might result in interference between the rotor and rotor housing when the rotor is rotated about its axis.

The rotor post 12 and concentric rotor shell 10 thus provide an annular space 36 therebetween which is adapted to carry a mass of heat absorbent material alternately between the hot gas and cooler air. The annular space 36 is subdivided into a series of sectorial compartments by radial partitions 38 that are secured to the rotor post and arranged to extend outward therefrom into a closely spaced relation with the rotor shell. A similar series of partitions 42 positioned intermediate the partitions 38 is secured to the rotor shell 10 and arranged to extend radially inward therefrom into a closely spaced relation with the rotor post to further subdivide each sectorial compartment. Resilient sealing means 40 are provided at the distal end of each partition to preclude fluid flow laterally between compartments. When the radial partitions 38 and 42 are spaced equidistant from one another and all sectorial compartments are made equal in size, any subsequent rotation of the rotor shell relative to the rotor post will directly increase the size of alternate rotor compartments at the expense of the compartments therebetween.

This arrangement thus affords completely independent inner and outer rotor sections, either section being adapted to be rotated circumferentially a limited distance without producing any significant interference with the other rotor section.

The sectorial compartments carried between radial partitions are filled with a mass of chains or chain-like elements 45 that extend laterally between adjacent partitions to join inner and outer rotor sections. Each element 45 is formed to a length somewhat greater than the lateral spacing between partitions whereby there will be a significant slack in each element of the rotor when all compartments are of an equal size in the manner illustrated by FIG. 3.

Stated otherwise, when either the inner or outer rotor section is rotated slightly with respect to the other section so as to increase the distance between alternate pairs of radial partitions, the distance between radial partitions that comprise the intermediate sectorial compartments is reduced so that as the chain-like elements of one compartment are made taut, those in adjacent compartments are made slack to provide a condition illustrated in FIG. 5.

Means for driving the rotor about its axis is provided in the form of an annular pin rack or gear 46 that extends around the rotor shell and is adapted to engage a reduction gear being driven by a drive arrangement 48 that is independently mounted on the rotor housing or other structure adjacent thereto. When the drive means is actuated to rotate the rotor shell about its axis, the radial partitions 42 extending inward from the rotor shell pull on the chain elements extending rearwardly to the radial partitions 38 that are secured to the rotor post 12. The chain elements extending rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation thus become taut while the chain elements in intermediate compartments assume a loose or slack condition. When the rotor driving arrangement is reversed so as to drive the rotor in a reverse direction, those chain elements which were slack become taut, and those which were taut now assume a slack condition. By intermittently reversing the rotational direction of the driving means, the chain elements in all compartments are alternately loosened and tightened to produce an agitation or flexing of the chains which is sufl'icient to remove any deposits of fly ash or other products of combustion which might adversely altect the operation of the apparatus.

Although the rotor drive arrangement 4648 is preferably connected to the periphery of the rotor shell to permit the application of maximum torque, other arrangements might advantageously use a center drive. A further variation that elfectively produces an alternate tightening and loosening of the chain-like elements is provided by supplying independent actuating forces for the rotor shell and for the rotor post in the manner shown by FIG; 4.

In the device of FIG. 4 the driving means 48 at the rotor shell and the driving means 56 at the rotor post are alternately actuated by a timer control mechanism 52 so as to rotate the rotor continuously in a single direction. Inasmuch as the rotational force is applied alternately at the rotor post and the rotor shell, the radial partitions 32 and 48 alternately pull and are pulled while the rotor is being rotated in a single direction about its axis.

Thus the chain-like elements 45 of each compartment are alternately made taut and slack as the driving means is alternated from the rotor post to the rotor shell in the manner defined so as to loosen the deposits thereon and thus provide the appropriate self-cleaning action.

Whether the alternate tightening and loosening of the chains or chain-like elements is produced by actuating the rotor post, the rotor shell, or by actuating both the rotor post and the rotor shell is not significant so far as the cleaning action is concerned, inasmuch as the same type of element agitation is produced and the end result is the same. Thus it is evident that various changes may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through said rotor shell, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell into a closely spaced relation with the rotor post and outward from the rotor post into a closely spaced relation with the rotor shell to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a myriad of flexible heat absorbent elements extending between laterally adjacent radial partitions, and means for rotating the rotor about its axis while varying the distance between adjacent partitions to thus vary the tension on said heat absorbent elements sufiicient to elfect removal of dust deposits therefrom.

2. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through said rotor shell, bearing means supporting the rotor for rotation about its axis, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell and outward from the rotor post to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a myriad of flexible chain-like heat absorbent elements extending between laterally adjacent radial partitions, and means for rotating the rotor about its axis while varying the distance between adjacent pairs of radial partitions to agitate the chain-like elements connected thereto and effect removal of dust deposits therefrom.

3. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including'a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through the rotor shell, bearing means supporting the rotor for rotation about its axis, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell and outward from the rotor post to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a myriad of clongate chain-like elements extending between laterally adjacent radial partitions, and means driving the rotor alternately in one direction and in the reverse direction to alternately tighten and loosen the chain-like elements carried in each compartment of the rotor.

4. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through the rotor shell, bearing means supporting the rotor for rotation about its axis, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell and outward from the rotor post to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a myriad of elongate chain-like elements extending between laterally adjacent radial partitions, and means for rotating the rotor in a single direction by applying an actuating force alternately at the rotor post and the rotor shell whereby the chain-like elements of each compartment are alternately loosened and tightened to effect removal of dust deposits therefrom.

5. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through the rotor shell, bearing means supporting the rotor for rotation about its axis, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell and outward from the rotor post to provide a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a myriad of flexible elements extending laterally between adjacent partitions, driving means connected to the rotor post, independent driving means connected to the rotor shell, a timing mechanism operatively connected to each of said driving means adapted to alternately actuate said driving means in a single direction in response to a predetermined sequence whereby the flexible elements of each compartment are alternately loosened and tightened to elTect removal of dust deposits therefrom.

6. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor including a cylindrical rotor shell, a rotor post extending axially through said rotor shell, radial partitions extending alternately inward from the rotor shell into a closely spaced relation with the rotor post and radially outward from the rotor post into a closely spaced relation with the rotor shell to provide independent inner and outer rotor sections with a series of sectorial compartments therebetween, a multiplicity of flexible heat absorbent elements extending loosely between laterally adjacent partitions that depend from the independent inner and outer rotor sections, a housing surrounding the rotor in spaced relation thereto provided at opposite ends with apertured end plates that direct a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated axially through spaced parts of the rotor, bearing means supporting the rotor for rotation about its axis, and means rotating the rotor about its axis while moving the inner rotor section relative to the outer rotor section whereby the flexible heat absorbent elements extending laterally between partitions are alternately loosened and tightened as the rotor is rotated about its axis.

7. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for rotating the rotor about its axis comprises apparatus operatively connected to the rotor shell.

8. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for rotating the rotor about its axis actuates the rotor shell and radial partitions secured thereto alternately in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

9. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for rotating the rotor about its axis comprises apparatus operatively connected to the rotor post.

10. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for rotating the rotor about its axis actuates the rotor post and partitions secured thereto alternately in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.

11. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means rotating the rotor about its axis includes actuators for the rotor post and the rotor shell.

12. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 11 having means alternately energizing 20 the actuators for the rotor post and the rotor shell.

13. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the hearing means supporting the rotor comprises an annular support affixed to the housing intermediate the rotor shell and rotor housing.

14. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 having bearing means supporting the rotor post independent from the rotor shell.

15. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means rotating the rotor alternately actuates the rotor shell and the rotor post in a single direction about its axis.

16. Rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 6 having sealing means provided between the end of each radial partition and the closely spaced rotor structure to preclude the flow of fluid through the space therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,176 6/1938 Herbeck 1655 2,314,836 3/1943 Seil 26332 FOREIGN PATENTS 571,283 2/1933 Germany.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ROTAWRY REGENERATIVE HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS HAVING A ROTOR INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL ROTOR SHELL, A ROTOR POST EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID ROTOR SHELL, RADIAL PARTITIONS EXTENDING ALTERNATELY INWARD FROM THE ROTOR SHELL INTO A CLOSELY SPACED RELATION WITH THE ROTOR POST AND OUTWARD FROM THE ROTOR POST INTO A CLOSELY SPACED RELATION WITH THE ROTOR SHELL TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF SECTORIAL COMPARTMENTS THEREBETWEEN, A MYRAID OF FLEXIBLE HEAT ABSORBENT ELEMENTS EXTENDING BETWEEN LATERALLY ADJACENT RADIAL PARTITIONS, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROTOR ABOUT ITS AXIS WHILE VARYING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT PARTITIONS TO THUS VARY THE TENSION ON SAID HEAT ABSORBENT ELEMENTS SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT REMOVAL OF DUST DEPOSITS THEREFROM. 